Controversial ‘pro-jihad’ group invited by OSCE to advise on returning foreign fighters

A group that represents the rights of Islamist extremists, which is alleged by critics to be “pro-jihad,” has been given an advisory role on European policy on foreign fighters returning home from Syria.

The Times revealed that
delegates from Cage were flown to a conference in Warsaw, Poland,
as “counter-terrorism experts” to meet government
officials, academics and community leaders to debate foreign
policy.

Cage considers itself a human rights group and describes itself
as “an independent advocacy organization working to empower
communities impacted by the War on Terror.”

The three-day conference was organized by the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Because of the
presence of Cage delegates at the conference, the Quilliam
Foundation decided to withdraw its representatives from the
event.

Quilliam’s managing director, Haras Rafiq, told the Times:
“This is serious business: an organization that has praised
jihad and refused to condemn terrorism… It was almost as if they
were there to tell us what needs to be done.”

He thought by inviting Cage delegates, the OSCE was “giving a
platform to an organization that is very selective about what
human rights they hold dear.”

A Foreign Office spokeswoman told the Times: “The UK
government did not fund Cage to attend and was not involved in
deciding which groups were invited.”

Asim Qureshi, Cage’s research director, came under fire earlier
this year when he described “Jihadi John,” the notorious
ISIS executioner, as “a beautiful, gentle young man.”
The group has been criticized for claiming Jihadi John turned to
violence after being harassed by the British security services.

He later clarified his comments, saying: “At the end of the
day what this man has done is absolutely horrific. There is no
way anyone can justify that.”

However, criticism of the group’s alleged pro-jihad stance
remains. London Mayor Boris Johnson has also criticized the
group, saying it should “stop crying Islamophobia” and
instead back British security services.